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100 Times Around the Sun -Guy Sebastian

We’ll start in Australia, with one of the continent’s major pop stars, Guy Sebastian, who is one of many who emerged from the talent shows on TV. This is a joyful, uplifting album, a bit polished perhaps, but the quality of both the songs and the performance make him a cut above the rest of boys in mainstream pop.

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At Home – Tess Henley

I have followed Tess Henley’s releases closely. She is an old-school soul singer, but in a positive sense. The songs are fresh and modern, and I like the way she adds a jazzy feeling to many of the songs.

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Blood Red Sky – Orbits

The Norwegian trio Orbits doesn’t stick to one genre, but cherry-picks from soul, jazz and indie, into a genre of its own. Many listeners may be thrown off by the genre mix and a number of very long tracks , but to me it makes the listening experience even more interesting. I wish more artists did the same. Artists used to. (Nepotism alert: My daughter Karoline is doing the backing vocals on some of the tracks.)

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(Every day I’m) Born Again – Elvira Nikolaisen

l have always been intrigued by singer Elvira Nikolaisen’s deep alto voice. She has given us great music in the past, but decided to give music a rest for a long time. Now she is back with what has to be described as a peculiar album, very personal and perhaps a bit introverted, a bit hard to listen to in one go. But in between there are lovely tracks with great songwriting, sweet harmonies and with Elvira’s pleasing voice.

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It’s Magic – Stella Cole

There is clearly a new trend in pop music, although there is nothing new about it. Who would have believed that one of the most popular artists globally would be a singer like Laufey, who seems to have been a musical time traveller (more about her below), reimagining the music and/or style of the 30s, 40s and 50s, but making it fresh and current. In my mind, Stella Cole goes one step further, she is lending considerable more from the performances of stars before her. I still find her music exhilerating and -yes- relevant, building bridges across generations.

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A Matter of Time – Laufey

The queen of retro pop is nevertheless Icelandic Laufey (pronouced «LAY-vay,»), now one of the best-selling artists anywhere, filling stadiums all over the world. I am so bowled over by her and particularly by her new album! Many of the tracks sound like they could have been composed 50 years ago, but you’re never in doubt that this is contemporary music. The whole album is so charming, the storytelling so precise, it should be on prescription to anyone who need a mood lift.

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My Home Is Not In This World – Natalie Bergman

A third artist in this list looking back is Natalie Bergman, although she is slightly more short-sighted than Laufey and Stella Cole, only looking back a few decades for inspiration. There is a lot 60s French pop found here, but as with Laufey and Cole, you realize quickly this is contemporary pop. Not everyone will enjoy so much nostalgia on an album, but I do hope you will give all three women a chance. In this day and age it is maybe good for us to look back for inspiration, musically as well.

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SE18 – Boy George

Perhaps it is retro to listen to Boy George as well, I don’t know. But to his defense (and mine) I would say he is definitely trying to redefine himself. He has for a long time been intrugued by reggae, which is the label I can put on SE18. He does the songs impeccably, even reggae-purists must enjoy some, if not all of the album.

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There is more genre-bending in the singles list this month. Some remakes and even a remix, a hit song from the Himalayas and Lebanon, jazz, folk, indie, songtrack – what more can you ask for? I am particularly intrigued by new releases from artists who have been quiet for a while, like Tanita Tikaram, Vance Joy and Conor Oberst. All tracks are in my September list, but you can also listen to them individually below.

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Born Again – Randy Newman

A bit controversial perhaps, to present Randy Newman’s 1979 album Born Again, as a classic. It received horrible reviews when it was released, as being snide, nihilstic and inward-looking. I can see the reviewers’ points, but I still enjoy it now, and enjoyed it tremendously when it came out, mainly because it shocked my senses. Yes, he is snide, but there is warmth and laughter here as well. And Randy Newman gave us considerably more sugary songs later on, that I also enjoy. So don’t be so judging, give Born Again a chance.

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Catch Us If You Can – Dave Clark Five

Many bands tried to compete with the success of The Beatles, Dave Clark Five being one of these. Although there is a lot of charm on their success album from 60 years ago, there is no doubt that the album lacks the depth, quality and charm of the four Liverpool lads. Dave Clark Five even tried to copy The Beatles’ success as film stars. Catch Us If You Can was really a sountrack album to their music film with the same name. The film was not received well, the album sold well both in the UK and in many other countries. At least it is a trip back to music roots. Which this month’s blog has been all about….